Recognize Myself: Extended Warnings & Notes
Extended Warnings: I recognize that for many people in fandom, trans fic is not just another trope or gimmick or way to look at a character, that it is intensely personal and has the potential to cause a lot of hurt. I am one of those people! The following are things I would want to be aware of before starting a trans fic; it may not be a comprehensive list of all the potentially hurtful things within, but it's a start.
- Jon's circle of friends and influences is made entirely of cis people; at several points this means instances of cis people telling a trans person how to think/feel/act.
- Jon's body issues cause a lot of discomfort for him when it comes to sex; there are several instances where he is explicitly uncomfortable with a sex act but allows it anyway
- Jon, Tom, and Ryan are privileged 20-something dudes, and as such tend to resort to gendered insults. I am not a fan of gendered insults, but I am also not a fan of avoiding realistic character flaws.
- It bears repeating this fic does contain an abortion. I don't go into much detail, but it unambiguously happens.
I would also like to make it clear it was not my intent to represent some universal trans experience. I am aware not all non-op trans people have the sort of body/sex/intimacy issues Jon does, and it was never my intention to imply this is anything more than one person's experience.
Extended Notes: Like I said, I began writing in this universe as a way to deal with some of my own issues as a trans man. It's as much escapist fantasy as an attempt to realistically portray one potential trans experience; it's a tricky mix, and I hope I struck the right balance. I am absolutely open to criticism, to good faith questions, and if I hurt you please know this is not an environment where I will criticize your anger and ignore your complaint.
I did a fair amount of research for this fic, and there is one site in particular I want to draw attention to: Hudson's FTM Resource Guide. If you have questions about the practicalities behind being a trans man, that is an excellent place to start.
- Jon's circle of friends and influences is made entirely of cis people; at several points this means instances of cis people telling a trans person how to think/feel/act.
- Jon's body issues cause a lot of discomfort for him when it comes to sex; there are several instances where he is explicitly uncomfortable with a sex act but allows it anyway
- Jon, Tom, and Ryan are privileged 20-something dudes, and as such tend to resort to gendered insults. I am not a fan of gendered insults, but I am also not a fan of avoiding realistic character flaws.
- It bears repeating this fic does contain an abortion. I don't go into much detail, but it unambiguously happens.
I would also like to make it clear it was not my intent to represent some universal trans experience. I am aware not all non-op trans people have the sort of body/sex/intimacy issues Jon does, and it was never my intention to imply this is anything more than one person's experience.
Extended Notes: Like I said, I began writing in this universe as a way to deal with some of my own issues as a trans man. It's as much escapist fantasy as an attempt to realistically portray one potential trans experience; it's a tricky mix, and I hope I struck the right balance. I am absolutely open to criticism, to good faith questions, and if I hurt you please know this is not an environment where I will criticize your anger and ignore your complaint.
I did a fair amount of research for this fic, and there is one site in particular I want to draw attention to: Hudson's FTM Resource Guide. If you have questions about the practicalities behind being a trans man, that is an excellent place to start.